Future Music Fest organiser pledges cheaper water

KUALA LUMPUR - Amid criticism from concertgoers for charging exorbitantly for bottled water, the organiser of the 2014 Future Music Festival Asia has promised that costs will be cut at future events.

Livescape Group director of events Darren Waide said free water was available at last year's event, although attendees claimed otherwise.

He explained that the high cost for bottled water was due to charges for transporting, storing, cooling and hiring people to sell it.

"Nevertheless, we assure fans that we are working with our suppliers and partners to find a solution to bring the cost down and reduce the price of bottled water at future events," Waide said in a statement.

He added that unlike festivals in Western countries which provide free tap water to revellers, the organisers here could not be assured that pipe water here was safe to drink.

Revellers told The Star security personnel did not let them bring in their own bottles of water.

At the festival grounds at the Bukit Jalil stadium, they were charged RM10 (S$4) for a 500ml bottle of water.

This comes after University Malaya Medical Centre forensic pathology department head Prof Dr K. Nadesan said the six heatstroke deaths at the festival could have been averted if the organisers had provided sufficient water.